UK Anime DistributorAnime Limited Discussion Thread

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Thousand Master

That's geography, sadly. London is generally seen as the centre of the UK so most events get held in it, assuming they get held here at all. There's apparently going to be a Dragon Ball World Tour event covering Asia, US and Europe. 2 European stops, both of them on the continent.

I've never been to SLA myself mostly due to cost and logistics. I'd love to both as a cinema/animation fan and to cover it for the site but it just hasn't worked out that way.

On the other hand, I do MCM every May and October and hear people complain they miss out on guests, screenings, etc there.

I actually think Anime Limited and the other companies try really hard to address this in the UK. I remember the early 2000s when UK fans were lucky if an anime got a DVD release, never mind film festivals, art exhibits, guests, etc.

Flame Haze

Again, I'll mention Kotatsu. From what I hear, the line up tends to be similar to SLA, plus they hold workshops, stalls, as well as short film screenings; some of which SLA doesn't even get to showcase! This one's right on your doorstep, dude, and yet it doesn't interest you?

I mean, even if there were just one or two films that you were interested in, there's lots of educational stuff going on there. Surely not a wasted trip?

Even just based on Kotatsu, you can't exactly say that Wales "gets ignored" with regards to anime events. It's even held at two separate venues.

It's always going to be a geographically relative issue. Imagine North Walians kicking off about how "everything ends up in Cardiff/the general south". I'm pretty sure many do, generally, about most things, not just anime-related events!

Diclonius

The whole it was worse 15 years ago argument. As yeah we were nearing a recession so ofc it was worse. We've had how many company's leave in the past 10-12 years. But even now AoA survive on its volume format people constantly moan but they are still here.
They promised two years a cinema release Q1 2018/19 and we didnt get it. So sorry I believe they will fail again. The Yuasa film yeah will release. The other one no.

The NW/SW thing happens a lot. Its just funny they can ignore Wales its the only thing im nationalist about that people can ignore a whole country and be fine. Its not just AL. There is no official MCM in Wales ( i know it wont happen now they shrunk but yeah 5 years ago was bizarre). At least we have an anime distributor.

Thousand Master

I don't really think the recession ties into it. For a long time the anime scene over here was pretty much Manga, not helped by tabloid scare stories. I remember being a kid at the local comic shop and staying away from 'those violent Chinese porn toons'.
Pokemon was what really caused the anime boom, with companies licensing whatever they could to cash in. The UK walked a similar path to the US on that but not exact so we didn't get the same push as they did going into the 2000s. I mean Sci Fi dabbled with the Saiko Exciting block and there was the short lived CNX channel but we never really matched what the US had.

Diclonius

Its slightly more acceptable these days. But buying physical media in general makes me weird on its own. To watch Game of Thrones I decided id rather own the BD thats makes me a minority. Streaming anime is okay. Buying physical is still seen as weird what I've encountered . That’s why I thought the theatrical releases made kinda sense as people would see them even if they only streamed or pirated the show that’s why I think Broly did so well.

Flame Haze

Regarding the original point, though, that due to generally stronger infrastructure, there is more of a bias towards the south for hosting big events and the like. People from Scotland who want to attend events further south have to think about logistics just as much as you would have to if you were travelling to an event up there. You can't really say it's unfair just because an event decides to host itself so much as an inch north of Manchester. I'm sure these event organisers do their upmost to ensure everyone has an opportunity to attend. The bottom line is, most people will have to travel some distance - it's not economically viable for a big event to be hosted in a modest little hamlet town. These event organisers likely have to think about what areas will generate the most money, as well as the most convenient travel logistics.

Ultimately, if you can't attend, you can't attend. What you can do though is rather than bemoan the fact as being unfair, just accept it, and at least be grateful that event organisers do work hard to bring these events to fans

Diclonius

It’s so sad the population density of Britain is in the south. And it’s not travelling or if I’m willing. It’s somehow you’re not a fan if you don’t go. You don’t care about anime If you don’t go. That’s what perception is slowly happening. You’re not a British anime fan if you don’t go. When Cardiff Airport becomes easily accessible due to the metro I will go as the planes then easy as well.
At least if Scotland becomes independent won’t be UK premieres anymore.

State Alchemist

And it’s not travelling or if I’m willing. It’s somehow you’re not a fan if you don’t go. You don’t care about anime If you don’t go. That’s what perception is slowly happening. You’re not a British anime fan if you don’t go.

I must really not care about anime or be a true fan given how few events I go to. Good thing I don’t give the slightest toss what anybody else thinks of my fan credentials. It’s sad not to be able to attend events you’d like to, for sure, but if it’s unaffordable or inconvenient timing there’s not really much anyone else can do about it.

Diclonius

I must really not care about anime or be a true fan given how few events I go to. Good thing I don’t give the slightest toss what anybody else thinks of my fan credentials. It’s sad not to be able to attend events you’d like to, for sure, but if it’s unaffordable or inconvenient timing there’s not really much anyone else can do about it.

I wish I didnt care. I dont want to go to any of them really. The problem is now most the films from SLA aren't even licensed so it was kinda the only chance to see UK releases of them. Thats why I care about SLA over say London MCM. But seeing lots of films in a short period of a time I dunno if I would enjoy anyway.
Penguin Highway I knew Id want to see once. So a £10 ticket would be great but now I will pay at £20 at least if AL release it just to watch it.

Diclonius

The double standards if something was in Wales people would be livid. I see double standards between Scotland and Wales and it drives me crazy.
And Scotland isn't very easy to get to. Thats why its insulting. plenty of transport to London, Manchester the big hubs Scotland is just miles away for most people.
They are a scottish company I get why they do it. I just wish they tried a bit harder to get some of them to more people. People would have loved to see HF in the cinema for example.
They did an event in 2010 where they went round big cities I do wonder why that just that year.

I mean, the East and West Coast Main Lines have existed for about 150 years at this point. Living about half way down the former I can get advance fares to London or Edinburgh for about £20 each way, Scotland’s not a hugely expensive or difficult place to get to (the main reason I don’t go to cons is lack of spending money and the price of accommodation, though I’d bet money that’s a lot cheaper in Scotland than in London).

Completely Average High School Student

I always thought SLA was done in Glasgow and Edinburgh to fit in with all the other cultural festivals that go on up here? Call it out of the way if you want but Scotland is home to the world's largest arts festival and does go out of it's way to be a place where events like these can be held.
It's an expensive place to be but as Ayase said unless you're in a small place with poor rail links, (in which case I doubt it's that easy to get anywhere) as long as you're not going north of Glasgow or Edinburgh it's not that difficult to get to.